The sun is out and temperatures are on the rise. This is the time when we venture out to the garden to survey the surroundings and draw up the list of maintenance tasks.
When talking about exterior wood finishes, there’s always an assumption that it’s about treating your decking, garden shed or fence. Although these are indeed the most common garden features that need maintenance after a winter of wind, rain and freezing temperatures, wooden window frames, doors and porches should also be checked and given attention if required.
Dulux Trade Opaque Coating Systems
It’s all about the knowledge
A question we get asked a lot here at Wood Finishes Direct is “What is the best exterior wood treatment?” Unfortunately, there’s no single product that is better than another for every project and type of wood. In fact, deciding what product should be used can be a complex matter. That’s why we invest heavily in the training of our sales and service team, or as we call them, the SAS team. All of our support staff are rigorously trained so that they’re familiar with the products we stock, their properties and their suitability for any number of given scenarios. This means that we’re always able to give expert advice and guidance on which products and brands are best suited to your project.
Just some of the top brands available at Wood Finishes Direct
Exterior wood finishing types
Essentially, there are two types of exterior wood treatments: those that are absorbed into the surface of the wood, such as oil-based products, and those that form a protective coating on the surface of the wood. Both have their own unique characteristics and benefits.
Penetrative wood treatments
Penetrative wood treatments are products that soak into the wood and protect from within, such as decking oils, shed & fence treatments. These products are predominantly oil- and wax-based. They work by penetrating and then drying in the surface grain of the timber to provide a tough, durable, weather-resistant surface.
Oil-based products are popular for garden decking, sheds and fences.
The key benefit of this type of product is that it’s very easy to apply and maintain. When the finished surface starts to look tired and worn, it’s simply a case of reapplying a fresh coat. No need to sand, strip back or remove the old finish. Wood oils are very forgiving for patch repairs, meaning that localised areas of wear are very easy to repair and blend in with the surrounding areas. Leading brands that specialise in these types of exterior wood finishing products include Osmo, Ronseal, Barrettine and Cuprinol.
Exterior coating systems
What was once the realm of paints and exterior wood varnishes is now dominated by an array of ultra-modern wood coating systems. Whereas old paints and varnishes had a reputation for cracking, flaking and peeling, modern coating systems have been scientifically developed to withstand the effects of weathering and the constant movement of the timber as a result of moisture and temperature changes.
Sikkens exterior wood treatments seal and protect.
Modern exterior wood coatings are flexible and durable, meaning that they rarely need to be stripped back to bare wood if maintained correctly. This makes them a firm favourite for exterior joinery such as wooden window frames and doors. Coatings from brands such as Sadolin and Sikkens are designed in such a way that as the top coat wears over time, it starts to lose some of its colour and sheen. This is an indicator that the finish needs maintenance. Surfaces that require maintenance can be restored by following a few simple steps.
- Wipe down with methylated spirit to degrease the old finish.
- Lightly sand the surface to remove any ingrained surface dirt and debris. This also provides a key for the new top coat.
- Wipe down a second time after sanding with methylated spirit to remove all traces of sanding dust and any residual grease from hands and fingertips.
- Once dry, a fresh top coat can be applied to restore the appearance and maximise protection of the timber.
Other brands that specialise in translucent and opaque exterior coatings include Dulux Trade and Crown Paints. Also, see Sadolin’s Superdec Opaque Wood Protection finish.
Have a question about exterior wood care projects?
If you have an exterior wood care project to tackle and are not sure which product to choose, give our resident wood experts a call. They’re able to provide free, expert wood finishing advice, so that you can make a well-informed choice on which products are suitable for your project.
We love to see before, during and after photos of any wood finishing project. If you would like to share your decking project pictures with us, you can either send us some photos or share them on our Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest or Instagram pages.
260 comments
Reply to Dave Reid:
Good afternoon Dave,
Are you able to email me with some further details of your project. To include if the wood is exposed to the elements, wind, rain etc ? You could look at an Oil or Varnish for protection, oil will give a natural finish and varnish is a harder wearing surface sealer that is longer lasting. If you can email me at wood@finishes.direct with further details of your project and I can narrow down some possible products for you.
Kind regards Samantha.
Dear Samantha,
I have recently purchased two bird houses made out of pine. What would be the best wood treatment to preserve the wood and be safe for the birds.
Many thanks for your help.
Angela Sen
Reply to Angela Sen:
Hello Angela,
Its always difficult when it comes to treatments that are to be used around animals. Many of our products are safe once dry, its just during the application period that you have to take care. One product that I often recommend is the Barrettine Premier Wood Preserver (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-wood-preservative).
Barrettine Wood Preservative is perfectly safe to use on any surface that comes into contact with animals when dry. This includes but is not limited to dog kennels, chicken sheds and houses, horse stables and more. It’s important to remember that this wood preservation treatment should be over-coated with a suitable exterior wood oil or decking oil. Animals should only come into contact with the surface of the wood when both the wood preserver and oil have fully dried.
It will help to prevent mould,mildew and rot and is available in colours or clear to suit your needs. I hope that helps and if you have any further questions please do not hesitate to get in touch (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/pages/contact).
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi, my partner has a shelter for her horse. It’s in an exposed field that’s currently getting battered by the elements. One side of the shelter is soaked through to the inside and not getting chance to dry out. If I look to use an oil based repellent do I have to wait for the exterior wood to dry out before applying or could I apply to damp wood on a dry day? Thanks
Reply to Gabriel Coleman:
Good Afternoon Gabriel,
It is essential that the wood is dry when application of oil is carried out and that you have a couple of dry days to carry out the project, I know that can be difficult in this country with such changeable weather. Sealing the wet wood will result in mould form fairly quickly.
For the best protection I would also recommend Barrettine Premier Universal Preservative (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) which will help to prevent mould, mildew and rot.
If you have a look at these recommendations and feel free to get back to me if you have any further questions.
Kindest Regards Samantha.
Hi. I have a 5m x 3m timber workshop which is one year old and is clad in smooth finish natural colour boarding. The cladding was factory dipped prior to it’s being built 0ne year ago. According to the supplier it has to be recoated after 1 year so can you please suggests the best system for doing it?
Reply to Andy:
Hello Andy,
Thank you for getting in touch, I can recommend a good quality Preservative (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-universal-preservative) first to help to prevent mould, mildew and rot.
Following this a good quality top coat to help make the wood moisture repellent and give UV protection to slow down the silvering process. If you are looking to keep a clear natural finish then you can look at the Barrettine Log Cabin Treatment (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-log-cabin-treatment), which is a great product for ease of application and maintenance over time.
If you have a read up about products and feel free to get back to me if you have any further questions.
Kind Regards Samantha.
Recently had planters installed in garden (pressure treated railway sleepers (natural colour referred to as “green”).
To maintain current look would like good UV protection to avoid silvering – planters colour looks better after rain so some partial wet look would be a bonus.
Any ideas? thanks
Reply to Paul T:
Hello Paul,
You could have a look at an exterior treatment, such as Barrettine Wood Protective Treatment (https://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/products/barrettine-premier-wood-protective-treatment). This comes in a clear, which will darken the wood slightly, or a coloured finish, the darker the colour the more UV protection it will get.
You can apply 2-3 coats to build up a protection for the wood and it will help to make the wood moisture repellent. Always try a test area first and if you have any questions, I am here to help.
Kind regards Samantha.
Hi Samantha, they couldn’t tell me exactly, but i’ve found out the brown colouring is a dye to indicate it has been pressure treated, and will fade to nothing in a season. So I guess it is just a standard pressure treatment for rot and fungi as found with decking timbers.
Thanks